A 14-year-old girl who was critically injured when a tree fell on an auto-rickshaw in Khar has died, prompting police to add a culpable homicide charge against the construction firm linked to the incident.
Aarika Srivastava, who had been declared brain dead on Thursday after an apnea test, passed away on Sunday while undergoing treatment at PD Hinduja Hospital in Khar. She had been battling for life since the May 10 incident on Linking Road, which also involved her elder sister Manasvi (19) and friend Harshita Kumar (21), as well as the auto driver. While Manasvi and the driver escaped with minor injuries, Aarika and Harshita suffered severe injuries and were admitted to the ICU.
A second confirmatory test, mandated under medical protocol, was delayed as the family remained hopeful of her recovery. In a statement, the family said, "Having met with the tragic accident on Sunday and valiantly fighting for a week, Aarika Srivastava, daughter of Binal and Sumit Srivastava, could not survive against God's wish." Her funeral was held on Sunday morning, with relatives and friends in attendance. Her school in Andheri will remain closed on Monday as a mark of mourning.
Following Aarika's death, the Khar police invoked Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Bluestone Constructions and the third-party agency supervising the project near the accident spot. Earlier, the firm had been booked under sections related to negligence and acts endangering life. A police officer from Khar police station stated, "The incident occurred after the tree uprooted and fell on the rickshaw. The culpable homicide section was added to the FIR."
Investigators have recorded witness statements and sought reports from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), fire brigade, and forensic department. CCTV footage from the area has been collected as part of the probe.
In a hospital statement, it was noted that despite all efforts by the medical team, the teenager succumbed to her injuries after "a brave battle" over seven days. Regarding Harshita, the hospital said she continues to remain critical. Harshita's father, Harish, shared that his daughter recently underwent another cervical spine correction surgery. "These are very testing times for us. I have strong support from my family, friends and even my workplace, because of which we can sail through these difficult times. My daughter is such a brave and bright girl, and to see what has happened to her because of this incident breaks all of us down," he said.
According to Manasvi's complaint, the three women had left Harshita's residence in Santacruz and were heading to Bandra for a meal when the tree crashed onto the rickshaw around 5:30 pm.
A spokesperson for the developer said, "Bluestone is fully cooperating with authorities and has shared all relevant records to enable an independent and transparent technical assessment... Preliminary observations indicate concealed internal decay within the tree, including severe termite infestation, despite no visible external signs of instability."
The incident has yet again raised concerns over tree safety in Mumbai. In recent years, several people have been injured or killed in tree fall incidents across the city, including fatal accidents in Worli and Parel in 2024. Shiv Sena corporator Ankit Prabhu, who lives in the same housing society as Aarika, said, "I plan to raise the issue in the BMC House, particularly regarding the trimming and maintenance of trees on private premises."
